Edwin Meredith
Encyclopedia
Edwin Thomas Meredith founder of the Meredith Corporation
and was the United States Secretary of Agriculture
under President Woodrow Wilson
.
in Des Moines
. In 1894 he became the general manager of Farmer's Tribune a Populist newspaper run by his grandfather. Meredith ran the paper from 1896 until 1902. In 1902 Meredith started his own company and began publishing Successful Farming, which had built its subscriber base to 100,000 by 1908. Meredith served as vice president and president of the Agricultural Publishers Association. Because of his successful business, Meredith was named to the board of directors from United States Chamber of Commerce
from 1915–1919, and again from 1923–1928.
running unsuccessfully for a U.S. Senate
seat from Iowa
in 1914. In 1916 he ran for the office of Governor for the state of Iowa, again unsuccessfully. President Woodrow Wilson appointed him to the Treasury Department's Advisory Committee on Excess Profits. Meredith was appointed Secretary of Agriculture in 1920. That same year, he ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for the presidency.
. Meredith was on the board of the Federal Reserve Bank
of Chicago
from 1918–1920.
His company, the Meredith Corporation continued after his death.
He is an inductee in the Advertising Hall of Fame. In 2008, Meredith was named by Professional Remodeler
magazine as one of the 11 most influential people in the history of remodeling. http://www.housingzone.com/professionalremodeler/article/10-most-influential-remodeling-industry
Meredith Corporation
The Meredith Corporation is a media conglomerate based in Des Moines, Iowa, USA. The company has two divisions, National Media and Local Media.-History:...
and was the United States Secretary of Agriculture
United States Secretary of Agriculture
The United States Secretary of Agriculture is the head of the United States Department of Agriculture. The current secretary is Tom Vilsack, who was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on 20 January 2009. The position carries similar responsibilities to those of agriculture ministers in other...
under President Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
.
Life before Politics
Meredith attended Highland Park CollegeDes Moines College
Des Moines College was an American college in operation from 1865 to 1929 and located in Des Moines, Iowa.It was originally located in a Lutheran College building, then moved to College Avenue at 9th in 1884. In 1920, it merged with Central College and Highland Park College to become Des Moines...
in Des Moines
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
. In 1894 he became the general manager of Farmer's Tribune a Populist newspaper run by his grandfather. Meredith ran the paper from 1896 until 1902. In 1902 Meredith started his own company and began publishing Successful Farming, which had built its subscriber base to 100,000 by 1908. Meredith served as vice president and president of the Agricultural Publishers Association. Because of his successful business, Meredith was named to the board of directors from United States Chamber of Commerce
United States Chamber of Commerce
The United States Chamber of Commerce is an American lobbying group representing the interests of many businesses and trade associations. It is not an agency of the United States government....
from 1915–1919, and again from 1923–1928.
Political life
Once a member of the Populists Party he became a DemocratDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
running unsuccessfully for a U.S. Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
seat from Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
in 1914. In 1916 he ran for the office of Governor for the state of Iowa, again unsuccessfully. President Woodrow Wilson appointed him to the Treasury Department's Advisory Committee on Excess Profits. Meredith was appointed Secretary of Agriculture in 1920. That same year, he ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for the presidency.
Life after politics
Meredith returned to publishing, buying the Dairy Farmer in 1922. He also started Fruit, Garden, and Home in 1922. that later in 1924 changed its name to the now famous Better Homes and GardensBetter Homes and Gardens (magazine)
Better Homes and Gardens is the fourth best selling magazine in the United States. The editor in Chief is Gayle Butler. Better Homes and Gardens focuses on interests regarding homes, cooking, gardening, crafts, healthy living, decorating, and entertaining. The magazine is published 12 times per...
. Meredith was on the board of the Federal Reserve Bank
Federal Reserve Bank
The twelve Federal Reserve Banks form a major part of the Federal Reserve System, the central banking system of the United States. The twelve federal reserve banks together divide the nation into twelve Federal Reserve Districts, the twelve banking districts created by the Federal Reserve Act of...
of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
from 1918–1920.
His company, the Meredith Corporation continued after his death.
He is an inductee in the Advertising Hall of Fame. In 2008, Meredith was named by Professional Remodeler
Professional Remodeler
Professional Remodeler is a trade publication and web site serving the information needs of residential, commercial, and general remodeling contractors.Established in 1997, Professional Remodeler magazine is published monthly...
magazine as one of the 11 most influential people in the history of remodeling. http://www.housingzone.com/professionalremodeler/article/10-most-influential-remodeling-industry
External links
- Edwin Thomas Meredith — Infoplease.com at www.infoplease.com